Krisp receives generally positive user feedback with a 4.0 rating on Trustpilot from 380 reviews and a 4.7 rating on G2 from 593 reviews. Users appreciate its AI-powered noise cancellation capabilities, with reviewers noting it effectively blocks background noise during calls and saves time by helping organize tasks. The software is described as working seamlessly and offering features like call recording and task management that users find valuable.

Read.ai faces significant user satisfaction challenges, earning only a 1.7 rating on Trustpilot from 61 reviews. Users report serious security concerns, particularly that the service continues joining calls without approval even after account deletion. The platform appears to have retention issues, with reports indicating many users are leaving the service due to these ongoing problems.

For more information about these services, readers can explore additional reviews and discussions at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Krisp excels as a noise cancellation tool that doubles as a meeting assistant, offering reliable background noise removal and accurate AI-generated summaries. Its strength lies in the simplicity of use and the unique combination of audio enhancement with transcription capabilities. However, it suffers from limited free tier usage (60 minutes daily), occasional audio distortion issues, and high CPU usage that can impact system performance.

Read.ai positions itself as a comprehensive meeting copilot with advanced analytics including engagement scores, sentiment analysis, and speaker balance metrics. It offers robust integrations with multiple platforms and provides searchable meeting archives with real-time translation capabilities. The downside includes a complex interface that can overwhelm users, very limited free tier (5 meetings monthly), and premium pricing that may deter smaller teams.

Krisp suits remote workers in noisy environments, call centers, and individuals who prioritize audio quality alongside basic meeting documentation. Read.ai targets teams focused on meeting optimization, global organizations needing translation features, and enterprises requiring detailed meeting analytics and comprehensive workflow integrations. Both tools, while functional, offer limited integration depth and lack sophisticated automation engines that would truly streamline post-meeting workflows and task management.

Why users switch away from Krisp or Read.ai

Users switch away from Krisp primarily due to audio quality issues that interfere with their communication needs. The noise cancellation technology can occasionally distort the speaker's voice or clip words, particularly when attempting to cancel very loud background noises. These audio quirks can affect transcription accuracy, undermining the reliability users expect from a professional communication tool.

The restrictive limitations of Krisp's free plan drive users to seek alternatives with more generous usage allowances. The free tier restricts noise cancellation to only 60 minutes per day and provides just 2 meeting summaries daily, which proves insufficient for heavy users who require consistent audio enhancement throughout their workday. This constraint forces users to either upgrade to paid plans or find competitors with less restrictive free offerings.

Resource consumption and cost concerns also prompt user migration away from Krisp. Several users report high CPU usage when the application is active, which can impact overall system performance. Additionally, users who only need specific functionality find the Pro version pricing excessive, particularly when they don't require both noise cancellation and meeting transcription features. The discontinuation of mobile apps further limits accessibility, as the platform now operates exclusively on desktop systems.

Users switch away from Read.ai primarily due to its highly restrictive free tier, which limits users to only 5 meetings per month with full notes. This limitation is frequently cited as too restrictive compared to competitors, forcing users to upgrade to paid plans even for basic usage patterns.

The platform's complex and cluttered user interface creates a steep learning curve that deters users. With numerous features including notes, analytics, search, and live coaching metrics packed into the interface, users report finding it "confusing" and less time-saving than expected. The abundance of features makes the platform difficult to navigate efficiently.

Privacy concerns drive users away when Read.ai joins meetings without proper consent from all participants. Users have raised boundary issues about the platform automatically joining others' meetings, creating uncomfortable situations and potential compliance problems in professional settings.

FAQs

Would Krisp work for in-person meetings? What about Read.ai?

Yes, both tools work for in-person meetings. Krisp captures any conversation using noise-canceling audio on your device. Read.ai has an iOS app that captures in-person/offline meetings with one tap.

Does either of these tools require a meeting bot to join the meeting?

No, neither tool requires a meeting bot. Krisp records and transcribes meetings locally via the Krisp app and works with any voice app. Read.ai records virtual meetings via cloud or extension, and offline audio via mobile app, without needing meeting bots.

What do users say about the quality of transcriptions?

For Krisp, users noted the summaries with key points and action items were "extremely accurate," requiring minimal edits. However, some report that Krisp might occasionally distort the speaker's voice or clip words, especially when trying to cancel very loud noises, which can affect transcription accuracy.

For Read.ai, users appreciate that summaries are considered "smart," capturing questions asked and topics discussed.

Do these tools help a user follow up with action items from the meeting? How so?

Yes, both tools help with action items. Krisp automatically generates meeting notes and summaries with key points and tasks, and allows task delegation in-app. Read.ai generates reports with key points and action items, and can automatically sync meeting summaries to platforms like Slack and CRM systems.

Do these tools integrate with software like Hubspot, Salesforce, or Linear?

Yes, both tools offer integrations. Krisp has calendar integration for one-click recording and native HubSpot CRM integration to push summaries. Read.ai has robust integrations including HubSpot, Salesforce, Confluence, Jira, Notion, and Slack.

Another alternative: Circleback

Circleback provides best-in-class AI-powered meeting notes and automations. We support over 100 languages and automatic participant identification in both in-person and online meetings.

• Automatically-identified and assigned action items

• AI-enabled search across all meetings

• Automations with 100+ app integrations

• Industry-leading security with SOC 2 Type II, EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework, and HIPAA compliance

• Ability to capture both online and in-person meetings with desktop and mobile apps